22170: Conditions of permissible joking

That is one of the things that nullify a person’s Islam.
Allaah says (interpretation of the meaning):

“If you ask them (about this), they declare: ‘We were only
talking idly and joking.’ Say: ‘Was it at Allaah, and His Ayaat (proofs,
evidences, verses, lessons, signs, revelations, etc.) and His Messenger
that you were mocking?’

Make no excuse; you disbelieved after you had believed”

[al-Tawbah 9:65-66]

Ibn Taymiyah (may Allaah
have mercy on him) said: “Making fun of Allaah, His Signs and His Messenger
is kufr (disbelief) and the one who does that disbelieves thereby after he
had believed.”

The same applies to making fun of some Sunnahs, an action
which is widespread, such as making fun of the beard and the hijaab, or of
shortening one’s garment, etc.

Shaykh Muhammad ibn ‘Uthaymeen said in al-Majmoo’
al-Thameen, 1/63:
“The matters of Divine Lordship, Prophethood, Revelation and religion are
sacred matters which are to be venerated. It is not permissible for anyone
to show disrespect towards them, whether by mocking them to make others
laugh or to poke fun at them. If anyone does that, he is a kaafir, because
this is indicative of his disrespect towards Allaah and His Messengers,
Books and Laws. Whoever does that has to repent to Allaah for what he has
done, because that is a kind of hypocrisy. So he has to repent to Allaah,
seek His forgiveness, mend his ways and develop fear of Allaah, veneration
towards Him and love for Him in his heart. And Allaah is the Source of
strength.

2 – The jokes should only be truthful.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: “Woe to the one who tells lies to make people laugh, woe to him.”
(Narrated by Abu Dawood).

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said, warning against this kind of behaviour which some jokers are
accustomed to: “A man may say something to make his companions laugh, and he
will fall into Hell as far as the Pleiades because of it.” (Narrated by
Ahmad).

3 – Not scaring people

Especially those who are very energetic or strong, or who are
holding a weapon or a piece of iron, or who take advantage of the darkness
and people’s weakness to use that as a means of scaring and alarming them.
It was narrated that Abu Layla said: “The companions of Muhammad (peace
and blessings of Allaah be upon him) said that they were travelling with the
Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him), and a man among
them fell asleep. Some of them got a rope and tied him up, and he got
scared. The Messenger of Allaah (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) said: ‘It is not permissible for a Muslim to frighten another Muslim.’”
(Narrated by Abu Dawood).

4 – Mocking people by winking behind their backs or making
snide remarks

People vary in their ability to understand things and in
their characters. Some weak people, those who like to make fun of others and
wink behind their backs or make snide remarks, may find a person to be an
object of fun for them and the butt of their jokes – Allaah forbid. Allaah
has forbidden such behaviour in the aayah (interpretation of the meaning):

“O you who believe! Let not a group scoff at another
group, it may be that the latter are better than the former. Nor let (some)
women scoff at other women, it may be that the latter are better than the
former. Nor defame one another, nor insult one another by nicknames. How bad
is it to insult one’s brother after having Faith”

[al-Hujuraat 49:11]

Ibn Katheer said in his
Tafseer: “What is meant here is looking down on them, belittling them
or making fun of them. This is haraam and is counted as one of the
characteristics of the hypocrites.”

Some people make fun of a person’s appearance, manner of
walking or vehicle. But there is the fear that Allaah may requite the one
who makes fun of others because of that. The Prophet (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) said, “Do not express malicious joy towards
your brother’s misfortune, for Allaah may have mercy on him and you may be
stricken by the thing you made fun of.” (Narrated by al-Tirmidhi).

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
warned against mocking people and hurting their feelings, because that is
the path that leads to hatred and grudges. He (peace and blessings of
Allaah be upon him) said: “The Muslim is the brother of another Muslim, he
does not wrong him, let him down or look down upon him. Taqwa (piety,
awareness and fear of Allaah) is here” – and he pointed to his chest three
times – “It is sufficient evil for a man to look down upon his Muslim
brother. Every Muslim is sacred to another Muslim, his blood, his property
and his honour.” (Narrated by Muslim)

5 – The jokes should not be excessive.

Some people joke too much and it becomes a habit for them.
This is the opposite of the serious nature which is the characteristic of
the believers. Joking is a break, a rest from ongoing seriousness and
striving; it is a little relaxation for the soul. ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azeez
(may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “Fear joking, for it is folly and
generates grudges.”

Imaam al-Nawawi (may Allaah have mercy on him) said: “The
kind of joking which is forbidden is that which is excessive and persistent,
for it leads to too much laughter and hardening of the heart, it distracts
from remembrance of Allaah, and it often leads to hurt feelings, generates
hatred and causes people to lose respect and dignity. But whoever is safe
from such dangers, then that which the Messenger of Allaah (peace and
blessings of Allaah be upon him) used to do is permissible for him.”

6 – Acknowledging people’s status

Some people may joke with everyone indiscriminately, but
scholars and the elderly have rights, so you have to be aware of the
character of the person with whom you are dealing. You should not joke with
ignorant people, fools or people whom you do not know.

With regard to this matter, ‘Umar ibn ‘Abd al-‘Azeez said:
“Fear joking, for it undermines chivalry and manliness.”

Sa’d ibn Abi Waqqaas said: “Set a limit to your jokes, for
going to extremes makes you lose respect and incites the foolish against
you.”

7 – The amount of joking should be like the amount of salt in
one’s food.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: “Do not laugh too much, for laughing too much deadens the heart.”
(Saheeh al-Jaami’, 7312)

‘Umar ibn al-Khattaab (may Allaah be pleased with him) said:
“Whoever laughs too much or jokes too much loses respect, and whoever
persists in doing something will be known for it.”

So beware of joking, for it “causes a person to lose face
after he was thought of as respectable, and it brings him humiliation after
esteem.”

8 – It should not involve backbiting.

This is a foul sickness. Some people think that they can talk
about others, and say that this is by way of joking, but it is included in
the hadeeth of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him),
“[Backbiting is] your mentioning about your brother something that he
dislikes.” (Narrated by Muslim)

9 – Choosing appropriate times for joking.

Such as when you are taking a trip in the countryside, or
attending a party in the evening, or when meeting a friend, you may relax
and enjoy some gentle anecdotes, nice stories or light jokes, in order to
generate friendship and instill happiness in the heart; or when family
problems are taking their toll and one of the spouses is angry, some gentle
joking may relieve the tension and cheer people up.

O Muslim,

A man said to Sufyaan ibn ‘Uyaynah (may Allaah be pleased
with him), “Joking is not right, it is to be denounced.” He replied, “Rather
it is Sunnah, but only for those who know how to do it and do it at the
appropriate time.”

Nowadays, although the ummah needs to increase the love
between its individual members and to relieve itself of boredom, it has gone
too far with regard to relaxation, laughter and jokes. This has become a
habit which fills their gatherings and wastes their time, so their lives are
wasted and their newspapers are filled with jokes and trivia.

The Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon him)
said: “If you knew what I know, you would laugh little and weep much.” In
Fath al-Baari it says: “What is meant by knowledge here has to do with
the might of Allaah and His vengeance upon those who disobey Him, and the
terrors that occur at death, in the grave and on the Day of Resurrection).

Muslim men and women have to be inclined to choose righteous
and serious friends in their lives, who will help them to make good use of
their time and strive for the sake of Allaah with seriousness and
steadfastness, good and righteous people whose example they can follow.
Bilaal ibn Sa’d said: “I saw them [the Sahaabah] jokingly pretending to
fight over some goods, and laughing with one another, but when night came
they were like monks.”

Ibn ‘Umar (may Allaah be pleased with him) was asked, “Did
the Companions of the Prophet (peace and blessings of Allaah be upon
him) laugh?” He said, “Yes, and the faith in their hearts was like
mountains.”

So you have to follow the example of such people, who were
knights by day and monks (i.e., devoted worshippers) by night.

May Allaah keep us, you and our parents safe on the Day of
the Greatest Terror, those to whom the call will go out on that great Day:

“Enter Paradise, no fear shall be on you, nor shall you
grieve”

[al-A’raaf 7:49 – interpretation of the meaning]

May Allaah bless our
Prophet Muhammad and all his family and companions.